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There are around 22,000 student beds in Nottingham - but the city needs more.

That's according to the results of a survey set to be released by Nottingham City Council today (May 24).

But of all these student beds in the city, only 105 of them are not occupied - and more students are set to come into the city in the coming years.

There are almost 65,000 students at the two universities in the city - a number that is set to grow in the next few years.

And there are more than 2,600 new student flats in the pipeline, either currently being built or going through the planning process.

A high-ranking councillor at Nottingham City Council has said although there is a perception that there is too many student flats in the city, the reality is that more are needed.

It's a view that has been echoed by estate agents, saying supply will meet demand.

The roadside view of the Castle Wharf student accommodation scheme in Nottingham

Jonty Green, head of student living at estate agents FHP Living, said: "The last 10 years or so have seen an increase in students coming to the city and a huge rise in the development of purpose-built student accommodation.

"Since 2007-08 the number of bed spaces on offer has increased from 13,905 to around 22,000 - but there is no bubble that is about to burst.

The Student Lodge, Radford Boulevard. (Image: Google Streetview)

"The increase in student numbers to the city has created the need for more accommodation to be built.

"We have astonishingly low vacancy rates. These figures truly demonstrate an appetite for this type of accommodation, breeding confidence from local and global investors, truly establishing Nottingham as a well ranking university city to rival cities Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester.”

Nottingham City Council conducted the survey with the help of estate agents.

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It found the number of unoccupied beds in the city centre is at an all-time low - just 0.5 percent are empty, a drop from 1.4 percent the academic year before.

This was despite 1,000 new bed spaces becoming available for the 2017-18 academic year. These, the report stated, included The Student Lodge, in Radford Boulevard, and The Frontage, Queens Street.

The Frontage, Queen Street. (Image: Google Streetview)

The 22,000 rented beds account for around a third of all rented properties in the city.

Students, meanwhile, said "there's not enough" private accommodation - but members of the public said they could understand why neighbours might be concerned about new developments near them because of noise issues.

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Lucas Swain, 23, of Portland Street, vice-president of services at Nottingham Trent University's students' union, said: "It may seem excessive with the scale of student accommodation in and around Nottingham.

"However, it's undoubtedly needed. With the University of Nottingham having 30,000-plus students and Nottingham Trent having 29,000, the supply simply meets the demand."

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Ian Stott, 38, of Porchester Road, Thorneywood, who delivers for Uber Eats and Deliveroo, added: "For delivery purposes, it would be good for student flats around the city. They have got to make more residential as well.

"They are building all the time, there's one at the top of Derby Road that's nearly finished and there's going to be some more around Bath Street."

The Hydrogen block of flats in Goldsmith Street.

Peter Green, 86, of Cyprus Road, Mapperley Park, a retired prison officer, said: "With the investment, that helps the local economy which is desirable.

"There's a lot more students about now than there used to be. But apart from graduation day when they flood this area [Old Market Square] with gowns and hats, you only really see the students on the first week when they arrive."

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Although a third of new households between 2011 and 2017 were new student flats, they still make up 11 percent of city centre residential properties, with the city council also frequently granting permission for traditional family housing and overseeing the development of new affordable housing.

The University of Nottingham currently has 34,329 students compared to 29,996 at Nottingham Trent.

Between them, both universities contribute more than £1bn to the local economy and support 19,000 jobs, with 11,000 of these jobs directly linked to the two universities.

The report states: "There is planning permission for approximately 2,600 PBSA [purpose-built student accommodation] bedspaces with it anticipated that approximately 850 additional bedspaces will be provided by September 2018 and a further 1,750 additional bedspaces by September 2019 based on planning approvals and feedback with operators."

It will involve tearing down of a nearly century-old row of red brick buildings to make way for 92 studio units for students on the site that currently houses a disused British Gas shop and empty units which are in a poor state of repair and would not be easy to convert.

The proposed development in Glasshouse Street (Image: Rayner Davies Architects)

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Councillor Jane Urquhart, portfolio holder for planning and housing, at the council, said: “We know there’s a perception that there’s too much student accommodation and more can’t possibly be needed.

"But actually, we can see we are only just keeping pace with demand. Vacancy rates in new student flats have remained consistently below 2 percent for the past four years, with no signs of that changing as student numbers continue to rise.

“Our position has been to encourage purpose-built student accommodation in the city centre where other residents might not choose to live but students want to be.

"We can see that this is reducing the concentration of students in some parts of the city and frees up housing that’s arguably better suited for families and other residents.

Artist impression of plans for the new development at 11 Station Street, in the city centre (Image: Eden Public Relations)

“Even if we wanted to, we couldn’t refuse planning permission for student accommodation without a sound policy reason – and some land may be suitable for small units and flats but not for family housing.

"It’s also clear that students are part of the life-blood of our city centre, with new student accommodation giving disused buildings and the areas around them a new lease of life.”

A University of Nottingham spokesman said: “Students are drawn to Nottingham for the unrivalled combination of its leading universities, vibrant city and beautiful countryside. We are proud of their contribution to the community and economy, which is estimated at £11,000 per student per year.

“We aim to accommodate 90 percent of our first year full-time students on campus in our 19 halls of residence, but welcome the role that private companies and the city’s private landlords have to play.

"And we work hard with the council and local agencies to ensure students play a positive role in the city they call home.”

Artist impressions of the plans for Crocus Street

A Nottingham Trent University spokesman added: "Nottingham Trent University continues to attract local, national and international students who contribute significantly to the city’s economy and culture.

"We support the creation of a council policy that permits development in response to need and stimulates the provision of high-quality accommodation in appropriate locations.”

A number others huge projects could be on the way, too, subject to council approval.